Back to School

Yesterday was the first day of school. Lily's second year of preschool. I can hardly believe it. We had meet the teacher last Friday which was kind of a joke considering that Lily got the same teachers as last year -- Ms Andrea and Ms Melinda and is in the exact same class room!! So she was beyond excited, we love Andrea and Melinda. To make this year perfect, the school gave into our requests (demands) and put Lily, Elise, Matthew, Carys and Makayla together in the same class!!!! YAY!!!! Luke and Christie (who is also on her soccer team) from last years class are also in her class this year. Unfortunately, Blake got left out somehow and put in the other class, so we were pretty bummed about that. But out of 14 kids, she already is friends with 50%, so that is a great start! All ready to go! She woke up with a HUGE smile and was so ready to get ready to go to school!

A few weeks back we saw a car with a bumper sticker that had an "I love you" sign in sign language. Lily asked about it and I told her what it was and she has been signing "I love you " ever since. I am impressed that she remember it, considering we only saw it for a minute as we were stopped at a red light. It is actually really sweet.

Her new backpack. Last year we had a Disney Princess backpack, but it got pretty beat up after a year at school, and a few trips to CA. So I let her pick a new one for this year. I was SHOCKED that she didn't pick another Princess one, she is still very obsessed and into the princesses, but she wanted Hello Kitty. I kept the tags on until yesterday morning in case she changed her mind and had her look at all the backpacks every time we went back to Target or the Disney Store, but she wanted Hello Kitty. I am not complaining, I love Hello Kitty and it is actually way cuter than some of the princess ones they had.

Drop off was a breeze! Considering it was the same room, teachers and friends she had no problem. And, unlike last year, I didn't even shed a tear!! Maybe again next year when she starts her last year of preschool and for sure the year after when she starts kindergarten, but this year was easy, fun and exciting!

Happy Birthday Elise!

Sunday afternoon we went to Elise's 3rd birthday party. When we got there Elise ran outside yelling, "Lily! Lily! My best friend! Lily's here!!" over and over. It was the sweetest thing. Elise loves Lily and Lily loves her "Lisie-poo", as she calls her. :)

All ready to go. My baby looks so old in this photo.
Elise loves her kindermusic class, so she had a kindermusic birthday party. The instructor came to their house and they had a session. It was fun. They sang songs, played instruments and danced around.

Lily was a little unsure at first. It was pretty funny, like she was just staring at the wacky instructor with a face that said, "Are you serious?"

(Lily, Hannah and Elise)

After the class, some play time and pizza it was time for cake!

Courtney had cupcakes with candles for all the kids to blow out. It was a really cute idea!

Elise, Lily and Hannah

Soccer Practice!

I am officially a soccer mom. I am not too sure how I feel about that. :) Tonight was Lily's first soccer practice and she was very very excited!

We get soccer socks with our uniform in a couple weeks, so we just wore the shin guards and shoes today.

Our friend, Coach Heather, had a medical emergency and couldn't make practice tonight. But Charley's dad, PJ, stepped up and coached the girls. I was AMAZED at how well all the girls did. They all followed instructions, ran drills, kicked the balls, . . . it was like a real practice. I fully expected some of the girls (Lily included) to just kinda wander around and not really get it. But they all seemed to be really excited and ready to learn!

Team talk before practice about the rules and the game.

They got into twos and kicked the ball down to the goal. SO cute! I thought I got it on video, but I didn't. I did have a video of the grass and sky . . . so I am thinking I was filming when I didn't realize it and then when I went to record, I actually stopped recording. Duh. I'll get some next week!

Taken with my phone -- not sure why the color is so crazy!

Running with Caroline on their way back from kicking a goal.

It was a very successful practice. Lily had fun and said she is ready to go again next week!

More Fountain Fun

This morning we met up with Kathleen & Avery, Meridith, Taylor & Paisley. It is always great to see our old Gymboree friends. I can't believe the whole summer went by without a play date, but it is usually so hard to coordinate all of our schedules! We met up at water fountains which have been such a major hit this summer! If you look closely in the back of the first photo, there are mounds of sand -- they are building some kind of "beach" play area. I am not sure what exactly that will entail, but it sounds fun!

Lily and Taylor

Avery and Lily

Lily and Avery

Lily, Avery, Paisley and Taylor

Our Week So Far . . .

This is Lily's last week of summer. School starts next week. And Monday was Chip's last day of summer since he went back to school on Tuesday. Sadly, Monday was also the last day (for awhile anyway) that we will all have the whole day together as a family. Since Lily will be in school M/W/F and has dance on Tuesday and Chip has school Tuesday and Thursday. There is just no good way to coordinate every one's schedules. So the three of us spent the morning at the pool, went out to lunch and did some shopping. It was a nice way to spend the day.

Lily and I at the pool.

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Tuesday Lily had dance class again. She was so excited! I didn't take any pictures during class this time since I took so many last week, but I did get a few before we left:

Jumping for joy!

Being silly.

She is pretty hilarious during class. She can't get into first position by just moving her feet. She has to physically arrange her feet with her hands and move them into place. It is funny!

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Wednesday was a cloudy and beautiful day! Considering that Monday was a record breaking day with a high of 107, all of North Texas was a buzz when the temps maxed out at 80 on Wednesday. In the morning it was barely 70 degrees and it felt great, so Lily and I opened the sun roof on our way to the mall to do some back to school shopping. On the way there, we drove through a random rain cloud -- I quickly got the sun roof closed, but Lily quickly grabbed the umbrella and opened it . . . in the car!

I have to credit her quick thinking. Crazy girl!

Enjoying her reward for behaving at the mall -- a carousel ride.

Six Years

Yesterday was Chip and my 6 year wedding anniversary!! It is crazy to think it has been six years. Chip had to work during the day, but came home with this beautiful bouquet of lilies and my Mom came over and watched Lily in the evening while we went to our favorite Gold Class Cinema for dinner and a movie. We saw "The Good Guys" which was fun! It was a great night out. I only wish we were leaving on a plane for Tahiti today like we were six years ago. . . .

More Family Fun & Goodbyes

Friday night was Linda and Jeremy's last night since they had to fly home on Saturday afternoon. So we went over to play, get dinner and hang out some more.

Linda got this photo -- Lily won't pose for me.
Reading books with Grandma.

They were hiding out in my Mom's room to keep quite while Jeremy got a nap.

More tickling games!

Hugs

Playing Peek-A-Boo from behind the sing along stage.

Lily was very tired and acting like a "baby", so Chip had to carry her to the car when it was time to leave.

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Lily and I stopped by Saturday morning before they left to say good bye.

She looks so old to me in these photos. :(

Off to the airport. :(